Amidst the commemoration of their eighth marital anniversary, former Indian all-rounder, Irfan Pathan, penned an emotive tribute to his spouse, Safa Baig. Expressing profound gratitude for her myriad roles—be it a mood enhancer, humorist, provocateur, steadfast companion, confidante, or the nurturer of their offspring—Pathan bestowed heartfelt sentiments. “In this enchanting odyssey, I hold you dear as my life partner. Happy 8th, my love,” articulated Pathan, accompanying his message with a snapshot of the couple, a notable instance where the countenance of Pathan’s wife graced the public eye.
Criticism had previously been directed at Pathan for veiling his wife’s visage in shared social media images, a practice now ostensibly amended.
In a recent turn of events, the erstwhile Indian all-rounder endorsed the struggling batting forms of Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer, despite prevailing skepticism. Pathan attributed the slump to the absence of stalwart Virat Kohli and the sidelining of KL Rahul due to injury. Speaking at the inauguration of the Asian Legends League, Pathan suggested the team management deliberate on whether to introduce a fresh player promptly or exercise patience. He underlined that while Gill and Iyer have faced a lean patch, their track record includes instances of commendable performance.
The ongoing five-match series against England witnessed India trailing 1-0 after succumbing to a 28-run defeat in the initial encounter at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad.
Shifting focus to the second Test in Visakhapatnam, India asserted dominance by the conclusion of Day 2. Jasprit Bumrah showcased an extraordinary display of reverse swing on a placid pitch following Yashasvi Jaiswal’s inaugural double century. India, commencing Day 2 at 336 for six, tallied 396 all out in their first innings. Jaiswal’s sublime knock of 209 off 290 deliveries positioned him as the third youngest double centurion from India. Despite his brilliance, the overall batting display was somber.
In retaliation, England succumbed to a swift dismissal in 55.5 overs during the final session, ceding a substantial 143-run first innings lead to India.
Facing five overs before stumps on day two, India’s second innings remained unscathed at 28 for no loss.
